The rituals of British democratic practice are watched with faint bemusement by outsiders who often do not understand what is going on, such as the fiery cut and thrust of Prime Minister’s Question Time. Interviews with television anchors who are themselves potentates are like the aggressive thrust of a knife pointed at a poor Minister’s throat.
The original ‘Night of the long knives’ in British politics occurred in 1962 when Prime Minister Harold MacMillan, under pressure, ruthlessly sacked seven members of his cabinet, including his Chancellor of the Exchequer Selwyn Lloyd, in one fell swoop.
22nd November 2009 was another ‘Night of the long knives.’ This was the day Margaret Thatcher was forced by a palace coup to leave 10 Downing Street. The day before, she had held individual meetings with members of her cabinet. It became clear to the Iron Lady that they were all ready to stab her in the back. On the 22nd she capitulated, announcing her resignation in a live broadcast. She was in tears, as were several of her supporters and admirers across the nation. At the same time, many people who hated her guts in London and other places were opening magnums of champagne to celebrate the end of the Thatcher era.
